Junior guard Shemik Thompson scored a
career-high 27 points as the Central Connecticut State University
men's basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak with a 88-65
victory over Sacred Heart on Saturday afternoon. With the win the
Blue Devils improve to 5-12 overall and 2-4 in Northeast Conference
play. Freshman Devan
Bailey and sophomore Chris Baskerville also
posted career-highs in the win. Central and Sacred Heart will meet
again on Thursday night in Fairfield beginning at 7:45 p.m.

Sacred Heart took an early 5-0 lead, hitting their first two shots
from the field. Down 7-3, the Blue Devils scored 10 straight
points to make it 13-7 in favor of the home team, with 15:57 on the
clock. The run was fueled by a three from junior Markeys Deans and a
pair of baskets from Thompson.

After the Pioneers cut it to 13-12, Central used a 15-2 run over
the next 4:44 to take a 28-14 lead with just over 10 minutes to
play. The 14-point advantage was the largest lead of the season
for Central. During the run, Central was led by threes by Deans
and Bailey, as well as seven points from Thompson.

They built the 14-point lead on the strength of their offense and
defense in the first 10 minutes. Central hit 10-of-14 from the
field and 3-of-3 from three to start the game. They also forced 13
Sacred Heart turnovers in the first 15 minutes of play.

Central climbed ahead, 34-20, before the Pioneers scored four
straight to cut it to 10.

Central led 43-31 at the half, their largest halftime lead of the
season and the most scored points in the first half all season.
They hit on 17-of-34 from the field and assisted on 11-of-17 total
field goals before the break. The Pioneers made just 12-of-29 from
the floor and 2-of-8 from three. Thompson led Central with 11 at
the half.

Bailey's second three of the game increased the lead to 46-31 to
start the second half. An inside basket by Baskerville made it
48-31 with 17 to play. A 10-2 run from Sacred Heart cut it to
50-41 with just over 14 minutes to play. A pair of threes fueled
the quick spurt from Sacred Heart, but a Baskerville bucket and a
dunk from junior David Simmons made it 54-41
with 13:22 on the clock.

The Blue Devils used a 10-0 run to take a 65-43 lead with under 10
minutes to play in second half. Thompson scored seven and Deans
added a pair of free-throws during the run as Central led by 22.
Following a basket by Sacred Heart, Thompson hit his second three
of the game to make it 68-45.

The Pioneers would get no closer than 20 the rest of the way as
the Blue Devils won their third home game of the season. The loss
snapped a string of six-straight defeats. The scoring output was
the most for the Blue Devils in a non-overtime game this
season.

Thompson led the Blue Devils with a career-high 27 points. It was
the most points for a Blue Devil in a game since Ken
Horton scored 29 in a game at Fairleigh Dickinson last season.
He also had eight assists and was 8-of-15 from the field, including
2-of-3 from three. 9-of-12 free-throws. Baskerville posted his
first career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the
game. Bailey also had a career-high with 12 points, he added four
assists.

The Blue Devils and Pioneers will meet again on Thursday night,
this time in Fairfield, beginning at 7:45 p.m.